Applying for Carer Allowance or Carer Payment for caring for someone with young onset Parkinson’s in Australia

If you are a carer for someone with young onset Parkinson’s, you may be eligible for government support through the Carer Allowance or Carer Payment. YOPX is here to help you understand the application process and why applying for these benefits can help ease the financial strain of caring for a loved one with Parkinson’s.

Why you should apply for Carer Allowance or Carer Payment

Caring for someone with young onset Parkinson’s can be physically and emotionally demanding. The person you care for may experience fluctuating symptoms that can significantly affect both their quality of life and the amount of care they need. We also know that these symptoms will continue to progress over time, and an increase in caring commitments will result.

By applying for the Carer Allowance or Carer Payment, you can receive financial assistance to help with the cost of caring for your loved one. These payments can ease the financial burden of taking time off work to attend appointments, providing full-time care, and managing additional care costs.

What’s the difference between Carer Payment and Carer Allowance?

Carer Payment

If you’re caring for someone with Parkinson’s, Centrelink’s Carer Payment might be available to you. This payment is designed for those who cannot work due to the constant care and supervision they provide. Key rules include:

  • Eligibility: You need to care for someone who requires significant daily support with mobility, medication management, and safety monitoring. Their care needs must extend beyond household chores and last at least 6 months (unless terminal). Together with the care receiver, be Australian residents.
  • Care requirements: Care must be provided most days for a significant portion of the day, comparable to a normal working day. This care can be split over a 24-hour period.
  • Work and study limits: You cannot work or study more than 25 hours per week.
  • Income support rules: Carer Payment cannot be received alongside other income support payments like Age Pension or JobSeeker.
  • Home care: Care must take place in the home of the person you are looking after.
  • Income and assets tests: Both you and the person with Parkinson’s must meet Centrelink’s income and assets criteria.
  • Application: You’ll need supporting documentation from the person’s doctor regarding their care needs. Applications can be made via phone, in person, or online.

Carer Payment is an ‘income support payment’ – like JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment, Disability Support Payment and Age Pension. You can’t get Carer Payment if you are already receiving another income support payment.

Carer Allowance

Carer Allowance offers financial support as a top-up payment for those providing daily care. It can be combined with Carer Payment for eligible individuals. Carer Allowance is $159.30 each fortnight (as at 2025). This payment isn’t part of your taxable income. The Department of Social Services reviews this payment rate on 1 January each year. For Carer Allowance you must:

  • Eligibility: Daily care must be provided for someone with Parkinson’s who requires substantial support, lasting at least 12 months (unless terminal). Together with the care receiver, both be an Australian residents.
  • Flexible care requirements: Care can be provided either at your home or the person’s home. If you don’t live together, at least 20 hours of care per week is required.
  • No assets test: There is no assets test, and the income test is more generous compared to other payments. Your adjusted taxable income can be up to $250,000 per year.
  • Application: Applications can be made via phone, in person, or online, and additional forms may be necessary.

You may be able to get Carer Allowance even if you’re already receiving another Centrelink payment or you get wages from work. Carer Allowance is different from Carer Payment as it is considered a top-up to your existing income. Some people can receive Carer Allowance and Carer Payment.

You can claim Carer Allowance and Carer Payment by phone, in person or online. You may also have to fill out additional forms.

Can I take breaks from caring?

If you get Carer Payment or Carer Allowance you are allowed to take breaks from care, known as respite  You can take breaks from caring for up to 63 days in any calendar year, but you need to tell Centrelink before you take a break. You can use these days for anything, including taking a holiday, attending a conference or just having a rest.

It is sometimes possible to get more than 63-days respite for ‘special reasons’ but that’s up to Centrelink, so it’s definitely worth checking before you make any plans. You may also be able to keep receiving Carer Payment and Carer Allowance if the person you care for is in hospital but you will need to keep providing some care while they are there.

Carer Allowance Case Study

So, I started applying for the carer allowance today. We all know that every little bit helps. Honestly, I don’t want to put you off, but they don’t make it easy. Fair enough I guess… you don’t just want anyone claiming if they are not legit.

I’d say give yourself 2-3 hours to work through it on a computer and your phone in one sitting, with lots of information ready to go. Less time if you’ve already linked your government apps and systems (e.g. myGov, myID, Centrelink) and have scans ready of all your important ID documentation.

The process: 

First it asked me to verify myID. I logged in to the app and added the additional information they requested to increase my security.

Your myID verification you will need:

  • Download the myID app
  • Get your passport, medicare card, drivers licence or other form of ID ready (they will ask for information like numbers on them to increase your security profile on the app).
  • For information or help visit www.myid.gov.au

Secondly for your application to DSS you will need:

  1. Check your eligibility online
  2. Get important documents out for both yourself and the person you care: Proof of residence (e.g. birth or citizenship certificate), marriage certificate, passport, medicare card, drivers licence or other form of ID ready (they will ask for information like numbers on them throughout the application and then they need scans of them to be uploaded at the end if doing it online. You’ll have to bring these with you if you go into a service centre.).
  3. Get your Centrelink Customer Reference Number (aka CRN, usually 9 digits and one letter) and log into mygov.gov.au (you’ll be asked to enter a code from the myGov Code Generator app or get it sent to you via SMS if you can’t access the app).
  4. Get you and your partner’s ATO information for the last tax year, you will have to report on various sources of income as reported to the ATO.
  5. A medical form must be filled out by a treating health professional for the person you are caring for with young onset and uploaded, so download and get them to complete the Carer Payment and/or Carer Allowance Medical Report for a person 16 years or over form with their GP or neurologist (n.b. you may need a special appointment for this).
  6. You may also have to go in to a service centre to prove your identity with your CRN and proof of identity to be cited in person.
  7. Complete and submit the required forms online. If additional forms are needed, Centrelink will notify you.
  8. After submission, you can track the progress of your claim through your myGov account.
  9. Receive notification through Centrelink. They will inform you of the outcome via your myGov Inbox or mail.

For more information you can go to the Services Australia website: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/most-useful-information-for-caring-for-someone

Carers can also access support through other agencies, including:

  • Department of Social Services (DSS) – www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers
  • Department of Human Services (Centrelink) – www.centrelink.gov.au
  • There are a range of supports available to carers including respite support, counselling, education and training, peer support and advocacy. For information call Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737 or visit their website – www.carergateway.gov.au
  • If you are a young carer aged between 12-25 the Young Carers Network could support you in caring whilst continuing your education – www.youngcarersnetwork.com.au  
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